European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 31, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                My Lasarine by Tim Downey american forces information services w ant to whip a group of military history buds into a frenzy casually imply that slicers awarded live stars automatically rank As the nation s senior military Leader while that sounds logical and innocent gel ready to hear dissertations on Why Gen a outranks Gen a " when the Barking Dies Down let drop a Lew of these snippets of trivia to test others knowledge of the stars of yesteryear name the nine generals and admirals in United Stales history who wore live stars those readers rattling off Henry h Hap Arnold. Omar Bradley. Dwight d Eisenhower. Williamf. Bull Halsey Ernest j King. William d Leahy. Douglas Macarthur. George c Marshall and Chester w Nimitz sprinted to a Fine Start but beware of impending hurdles those who blurted out George Washington John j Pershing Ulysses s Grant William t Sherman and Philip h Sheridan May place a least with the asterisks in military protocol dates of rank play on important role round 2 May whittle out a Lew contestants place the nine five Star generals and admirals in order by Dale of rank anyone standing after citing Leahy. Marshall. King. Macarthur. Nintz. Eisenhower Arnold Halsey and Bradley should Send a of application directly to their service s historical Ollices the first seven men received their temporary promotions in 1944 on dec 15, 16. 17.18.19, 20 and 21. Respectively Halsey s filth Star came on dec. 11.1945, while the last military Man to break into the exclusive club. Bradley had to wait until september 1950. Those who remember oddities about famous people May find the following identifications easier which live Star general was the first Man to deliver the  mail by airplane1 he also was the first military aviator to use the radio for reporting observations. That Man was Hap Arnold most trivia buffs remember him As being the Only person to serve As a for o Star general in both the army and the air Force Congress passed a Public Law to make it official who caused Congress to waive the Law that prevents an Active duty military person from becoming Secretary of defense"7 he also won the Nobel peace prize and served As Secretary of stale that s right George Marshall s the Man. The Only member of the nine who was not graduated trom either West Point or the naval Academy this officer entered world War ii a relative unknown promoted from full colonel to live Star general in less than four years he later reportedly lectured Macarthur his former Boss on Why a senior military Man should not run for president the Man Ike Eisenhower the Only five Star of cer to become president of the United states and thus commander in chief of the armed forces known for his unassuming attitude and Sharp mind this officer commanded More than 1 3 million combat troops in his last command the largest body of american soldiers Ever to serve under one Field commander head of the veterans administration first chief of staff of the department of defense he served 69 years on Active duty longer than any other person in  military history yes Omar Bradley the go  by act of Congress remained on the Active duty Rolls till his death april 8.1981 Gen. Douglas Macarthur lop photo signing during surrender ceremonies on aug. 31, 1945. Above adm. William f. Halsey 3rd from left receiving his fifth Star to become Admiral of the Fleet in 1945. Also pictured trom left Are adm. Of the Fleet Ernest j. King Sec. Of the Navy James v. Forrestal and adm. Of the Fleet Chester Nimitz. Born of command this officer served As an aide to his father an army lieutenant general in Tokyo before going on to distinguish himself in world wars i and ii and the korean conflict. Whether routing the Bonus army at president Herbert Hoover s request in the 1930s or provoking president Truman s ire in the 19cos. Douglas Macarthur shone Center stage throughout his career and left in his Wake a legacy of triumphs and controversy. Neither the marines nor coast guard has Ever had a five Star officer the oldest of his Peers he graduated from the naval Academy in t897 and served aboard the Oregon in the Spanish american War at the Battle of Santiago. Despite holding the highest commands in the Navy during world War ii this former chief of naval operations considered an earlier Job As  ambassador to France in 1940 41 As his most important assignment one of the attendees at the mooting to Brief president Truman and his senior advisers on Progress of the atomic bomb in the summer of 1945, Leahy reportedly said it la never  noted for his Salty language this Fleet Admiral spent most of his career at sea serving on Board of commanding various destroyers at age 52, he began aviation training. Bull Halsey s Flag was flying on the battleship Missouri on sept 2. 1945. In Tokyo Bay when emissaries from emperor Hirohito officially surrendered on behalf of Japan. Sticklers for spotless military records Blush to admit he was court Martiale and Lound guilty when his destroyer the Decatur ran aground. Long associated with submarines Nimitz was graduated with distinction from the . Naval Academy but did not receive his High school diploma until alter becoming a Heel Admiral known Lor a volatile temper but praised for intellect and ability even by those who incurred his Wrath this Admiral commanded the most powerful naval forces Ever assembled unlike Many of his contemporaries to disagreed with the strategy that called for Healing Germany first instead King prodded president Roosevelt and Winslon Churchill to provide More icicles for the War against Japan Washington Pershing Grant Sherman and Sheridan never wore More than four stars but controversy reigns As to their exact Slatus in comparison to the live Star officers. George Washington wore three stars As commander in chief of colonial forces throughout the revolutionary War though Congress passed legislation that would have conferred the Tille of general of the armies on him in 1799. Washington died before president John Adams acted on the nomination. For whatever reasons the legislation languished Lor years the his Lonal oddity came under scrutiny preceding Celebration of the Bicentennial of the Resolution Congress voted to rectify the situation and made the nation s first president a general of the  posthumously effective july 4, 1976 but Washington was not the first person so honoured by Congress with the title general of the armies that distinction belonged to world War i hero Gen. John j. Black Jack Pershing in fact Pershing has often received credit lot seven Star rank officials with the army s Center of military history assert no evidence exists to prove Pershing Ever wore More than four. They agree however that despite per shag s Lour stars the singular title general of the armies made Pershing senior in rank to Marshall Macathur Eisenhower and Arnold until he died in 1948 and what Abr it Grant Sherman and sheridan7 All three served As general of the army a title that today would denote the wearer has live stars not so during their lifetimes says the Center. In fact while Grant and Sherman wore four stars Sheridan had Only three close your books the quiz ends. But Don t Lor a minute think the controversy has. Remember the five Star rank was created largely for protocol purposes Congress wanted top  military leadership to appear As equals with British counterparts who wore live stars unfortunately someone forgot the French whose Field marshals boast not five not six. But seven stars West la vie Neil Cepas wednesday. January 31. 1990 the stars and stripes Page 13